Gender and History: Global Feminist Theories and Narratives of the Past
HIST 291Z
Summer 2025
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
COL 323Z, FGSS 268Z |
What is a female husband? In the 1980s an increasing number of feminist scholars posed questions about the relationship between biological sex and gender roles. Ifi Amadiume, who studied the history of female husbands in West Africa, asserted that such relationships between sex and gender needed to be studied in a global context. More than two decades after Amadiume's influential book Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society (1987) was published, the scholarship on global gender and sexuality is vibrant and dynamic. These works have shown gender to be central to understanding society at different periods and geographical locations, but it is far from a universally understood category. This seminar will introduce students to the history of gender, sex, and the body from a global and comparative perspective with readings from the history of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. We will also cover the development of influential theories in the field and how they apply to the writing of history. For the first three weeks of the summer session we will focus on 1) Producing a Gendered Discipline 2) Feminist Theories and Sexualities and 3) Gender in the Archive. In the final week, students will produce a final research paper relating to one of four possible themes: International Feminisms, Women's Rights, Queering Histories, or Gender and Labor. Our readings for the week will guide an in-depth discussion of each topic. The course is especially appropriate for prospective history and feminist, gender and sexuality majors (this is a gateway course for FGSS), though all students interested in using gender as a category of historical analysis for their scholarly work in other fields are welcome. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (College of Letters)(Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 - Summer Session I |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Ifi Amadiume, MALE DAUGHTERS, FEMALE HUSBANDS (selected chapters)
Judith Brown, IMMODEST ACTS (selected chapters)
Susan Mann, GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN MODERN CHINA (selected chapters)
Nivedita Menon, SEEING LIKE A FEMINIST (selected chapters)
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, HERLAND
Gabriela Soto Laveaga, JUNGLE LABORATORIES (selected chapters)
Bonnie Smith, THE GENDER OF HISTORY (selected chapters)
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Examinations and Assignments:
Class Participation, 3 Short Papers, 1 Short Presentation, 1 Final Research Paper
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
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Instructor(s): STAFF
Times: TBA; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 3 | JR major: 3 | | |
| Seats Available: 15 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 3 | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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